Spring is just around the corner and with it comes brilliant blooms (more than half a million daffodils planted in Newport and Bristol alone), a return of warmer weather and a robust events calendar celebrating the best of our destination. Come visit during this extraordinary season of renewal, recharging and reconnecting.

March 16-May 4: Beer Dinner Series at the Hotel Viking Celebrate the relationship of beer and food during this series which features special menus paired with varying craft beers. hotelviking.com

March 19: Easter Bunny Tea & Egg Hunt at Blithewold Families will enjoy treats, finger sandwiches, tea and hot cocoa amidst an exciting Easter egg hunt. blithewold.org 

March 26: Rosecliff Easter Egg Hunt & Brunch Join the Easter Bunny for an egg hunt on the oceanfront lawn of Rosecliff followed by an elaborate sit-down brunch in the famed Newport Mansion. newportmansions.org/events-calendar

April 1: Newport Night Run This 5k starts after the sun goes down and treks along some of Newport’s most tranquil roads. Funds raised benefit local public schools. newportnightrun.com

April 1: Daffodil Days at Blithewold Tens of thousands of daffodils trumpet the arrival of springtime along with afternoon teas and Friday evening garden parties. blithewold.org/daffodil-days

April 1-10: Newport Restaurant Week Treat your taste buds to this extraordinary culinary experience featuring seasonal menus highlighting local flavor at more than 50 participating restaurants throughout Newport and Bristol Counties. Pre-fixe menus offer $16 three-course lunches and $35 three-course dinners. discovernewportrestaurantweek.org

April 16-24: Newport Daffodil Days Festival This multi-day affair includes a “daffy” dog parade, photography workshops, “doodle the daffys” art kiosks, a private garden tour, wine tastings, a bike ride, bouquet bar, home tours, car rally and classic car display, a garden party with live music and ballet and more. daffodillion.com/daffydays

April 24: 15th Neighborhoods of Newport House Tour Gain exclusive entry to five private homes in Newport and meet internationally acclaimed author and garden connoisseur, Bettie Bearden Pardee. newporthousetour.com

April 29-30: Newport Craft Beer Festival Savor beers and never-before-tasted brews by 35 of the region’s craft breweries plus a few from across the country. “Guild Row" is exclusively dedicated to Rhode Island-made beers. New this year: the VIB session at Newport Storm Brewery, an intimate evening with the brewers. newportcraftbeer.com

April 31-May 1: newportFILM SPORTS hosted by the International Tennis Hall of Fame A weekend-long sports film festival featuring 7-10 films and related sporting events for all ages. Documentaries will range from classic gentleman's sports to contemporary X-Games style sports. Also featured will be panel discussions and post-film Q&A's with filmmakers and/or film subjects, plus appearances by celebrity and local athletes. newportfilm.com

May 1: National Police Parade Celebrate National Police Week during this parade, one of the only of its kind, which salutes law enforcement nationwide. Perennial crowd pleasers include pipe and drum bands like the NYPD Emerald Society Pipes & Drums and classic cars. policeparade.org

May 21-22: Newport Waterfront Oyster Festival Savor oysters from local growers and restaurants under the festival tents at Bowen’s Wharf. Meet the oystermen of Rhode Island and learn shucking tips from the experts during this savory weekend. bowenswharf.com/events

Starting June 4: Newport International Polo Series Unfolding at Portsmouth’s Glen Farm, Newport Polo marks its 25th anniversary throughout this Silver Jubilee season with the home team (USA/ Newport) playing teams from around the world and from major U.S. cities. nptpolo.com

June 9-12: British Motor Car Festival Located at Bristol’s Colt State Park, this festival includes a British marketplace with British-inspired products including hard to find car spares and motoring accessories plus British food and regalia, a car corral, town-wide scavenger hunt, a Concours d’Elegance, downtown street party with a concert, a British attire and ladies hat competition, a tailgate competition and more. britishmotorcarfestival.com

June 17: 50th Newport Bermuda Race Widely considered one of the world’s most alluring ocean races, this course of 635 nautical miles races through oftentimes rough waters, departing Newport’s Castle Hill Lighthouse and arriving at St. David’s Lighthouse in Bermuda. Multiple departure viewing points throughout Newport and Jamestown. gotobermuda.com/newport-bermuda

June 17-19:  Secret Garden Tour Meander about the private gardens of some of Newport’s most prestigious properties. Proceeds support arts and cultural programs for Aquidneck Island public schools. secretgardentours.org

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